novelhk Page 93
Page 93
"Just telling the truth," Chen Xiao smiled. "By the way, could you take me to visit a shrine after school? I'm very interested in traditional Japanese culture."
Suzuna looked at him suspiciously: "Is it really just a visit?"
"Of course," Chen Xiao said sincerely. "I promise to behave properly."
[System notification: Target suspicion level 60%]
[We recommend using the "Sincere Eye Contact" skill.]
Chen Xiao's eyes suddenly became incredibly clear, like a bottomless spring. Suzuna's heart skipped a beat under that gaze, and she nodded unconsciously, "Okay, alright..."
As the bus entered Chiba city, the scenery outside the window gradually became more vibrant.
Suzuna secretly glanced at Chen Xiao beside her and found him staring intently out the window, his profile as perfect as a sculpture in the sunlight.
“Actually…” Suzuna began softly, “Many girls at school like you…”
Chen Xiao turned his head, a half-smile on his face: "Including you?"
"No, that's not it!" Suzuna immediately bristled. "I just... I just..." She stammered for a long time before finally saying in despair, "I just think you're not as annoying as people say!"
Chen Xiao suddenly leaned closer, "Want to give it a try?"
"Try, try what?" Suzuna's voice trembled with nervousness.
"Try..." Chen Xiao's lips almost touched her earlobe, "...go on a date with me?"
Suzuna's brain went blank for a moment. Just then, the bus arrived at the stop.
"We've arrived at Soubu High School." The mechanical female voice broadcast saved her.
Suzuna jumped up like a startled rabbit and rushed out of the car without looking back. Chen Xiao followed behind her unhurriedly, admiring her bright red ears and flustered steps.
[System notification: Kuraki Suzuna's heart rate is 180%]
Hormonal imbalance
[Initial strategy successful]
As I entered the campus, several girls immediately surrounded me.
"Chen Xiaojun! He looks so handsome today!"
Don't forget your weekend date!
"She just bought some really cute underwear..."
Suzuna felt inexplicably irritated looking at Chen Xiao, who was surrounded by girls. She stomped her foot, turned around, and strode towards the teaching building.
Chen Xiao's gaze pierced through the crowd, locking onto the back of the figure with long blue-purple hair, and a determined smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"The shrine maiden of Kuraki Shrine..." he murmured to himself, "What an unexpected find."
[Hidden Plot Trigger: The Secret of Kurakiyama]
[Mystery level +50%]
[Miyako's spiritual sensitivity +30%]
The moment Chen Xiao stepped into Class F of the first year of high school, the previously noisy class fell silent for a moment, followed by excited whispers from the girls.
He looked around and his gaze fell on the back of the blue-purple hair of the woman by the window—Kuraki Suzuna was pretending to be focused on flipping through her textbook, but her reddened ear tips betrayed her nervousness.
"Chen Xiao-jun~ Good morning!" Yui Yuigahama jumped up from her seat, her pink bun swaying gently with the movement. She affectionately took Chen Xiao's arm, "You actually came to class today, how surprising!"
Chen Xiao sat down next to Yui Hama and asked in a low voice, "Is that Kuraki Suzuna really in our class?"
Yui blinked. "Huh? Chen Xiao actually noticed Suzume-chan?" She leaned closer to Chen Xiao's ear and whispered, "She's not very sociable in class, always keeping to herself, saying she wants to 'maintain the purity of a shrine maiden'..."
Chen Xiao's gaze passed over Yuihama and landed on Suzuna's slender back: "Interesting."
“However…” Yui suddenly puffed out her cheeks, “Could it be that Chen Xiaojun…?”
Chen Xiao pinched Yuihama's cheek: "Are you jealous?"
"N-no way!" Yuihama blushed and lowered her head, twisting her fingers around the hem of her skirt. "Anyway, Chen Xiaojun has so many girls around him..."
[System Notification: Yui Yuigahama's Affection Level is 90%]
[Triggered by mild jealousy]
The school bell rang, but Chen Xiao noticed that Lingcai secretly glanced back at him. The moment their eyes met, she turned away quickly like a startled deer, her neck turning red.
As the last class ended, Chen Xiao stopped Suzuna in the corridor, who was about to run away.
"Didn't you promise to take me to visit the shrine?" He leaned against the wall with one hand, trapping Suzuna between himself and the windowsill.
Suzuna clutched her schoolbag to her chest, looking like a cat with its fur standing on end: "I-when did I agree to that!"
"On the bus." Chen Xiao leaned down, inhaling the faint scent of cherry blossoms in her hair. "Or... does the priestess lie?"
"I'm not lying!" Suzuna looked up angrily, only to meet Chen Xiao's handsome face so close to hers, and her anger vanished instantly. "Fine, fine... but there's a condition!"
Chen Xiao raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?"
"You're not allowed to seduce any of the other girls in my family!" Suzuna said sternly, holding up one finger. "Neither Mom nor the maids!"
Chen Xiao suddenly leaned closer, "Then... can I seduce you?"
"You!" Suzuna recoiled as if electrocuted, her face flushed red. "I...I have a fiancé!"
"Fiancé?" Chen Xiao repeated playfully, "Perfect, I love stealing brides the most."
Suzuna was stunned by this shameless statement: "You...you..."
"Just kidding." Chen Xiao straightened up and naturally took her schoolbag. "Let's go, priestess."
Suzuna jogged after her, muttering softly, "Mom said I have to wait for my fiancé to appear and that I'm not allowed to date... I hope Chen Xiao, you can be a little more restrained with me..."
Chen Xiao smiled but didn't answer. Instead, when she wasn't looking, he subtly hooked his finger around hers. A fiancé? That's even more exciting! Chen Xiao loved stealing someone else's love.
[System Notification: Kuraki Suzuna's Affection Level 55%]
[Forbidden stimulation level +20%]
[Key Information Discovered: Mysterious Fiancé]
The two walked side by side on the mountain path, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun.
Suzuna seemed to relax a bit and began to introduce the history of the shrine.
“Kuraki Shrine has a history of over a hundred years,” she said, her eyes shining with pride. “Legend has it that it was built to suppress the monsters in the mountains.”
Chen Xiao pondered: "A monster?"
“It’s just a legend!” Suzuna waved her hand. “However…” she lowered her voice, “there is indeed a forbidden area behind the shrine, which even I cannot enter.”
Upon arriving at the shrine's entrance, a girl dressed as a maid appeared before me, seemingly ready to receive Suzuna.
Chapter 101 Manipulating Maid Chimi, Exposing Yuriko's Scheme
The moment Chen Xiao followed Suzuna into the shrine, a cold wind brushed against the back of his neck.
An almost invisible black aura lingered around the torii gate of the shrine, while beneath the blooming camellias in the courtyard, one could vaguely see the stark white bones.
"What's wrong?" Suzuna noticed Chen Xiao's pause and turned around in confusion.
Chen Xiao withdrew his gaze and smiled, "It's nothing, I just think the flowers here are very beautiful."
Suzuna proudly patted her chest: "Of course! Our camellia is—"
"Miss Suzume!" a female voice interrupted her. Harukawa Tomomi, dressed in a traditional maid outfit, strode over, staring warily at Chen Xiao. "Shrines prohibit outsiders from entering. Have you forgotten the rules?"
Suzuna pouted: "Chimi, this is my classmate Chen Xiao. I invited him here."
Zhi Mei frowned, her gaze sweeping over Chen Xiao: "This gentleman has an ominous aura about him..."
"Hey, don't be so superstitious!" Suzuna tugged at Chen Xiao's sleeve and pulled him inside. "Where's Mom? I want to introduce Chen Xiao to her!"
As Chen Xiao passed by Chimi, the maid suddenly lowered her voice: "No matter who you are, you'd better stay away from Miss Suzuna. Otherwise..." Her fingernails had become sharp at some point, leaving a shallow bloodstain on Chen Xiao's arm.
Chen Xiao wiped away the bloodstains without making a sound and followed Suzuna through the corridor.
The further you go in, the heavier the yin energy becomes. Strange symbols are drawn on the paper doors on both sides of the corridor.
"We're here." Suzuna pushed open the paper door of the main house. "Mom, I'm home!"
Inside the house, a beautiful woman dressed in a gorgeous kimono was talking to a man.
Hearing the voice, she turned her head—Kuraki Yuriko's appearance was seven parts similar to Suzuna's, but she had a more mature charm.
But her eyes… Chen Xiao noticed the eerie red light flickering deep within her pupils.
"Who is this?" Yuriko's gaze pierced Chen Xiao like a knife.
"My classmate Chen Xiao!" Lingcai introduced excitedly, then her expression changed drastically when she saw the man next to her. "He, he is..."
Yuriko rose gracefully: "Mr. Koichi Hayama, Suzuna's fiancé." She added meaningfully, "A destiny ordained."
Hao Yi bowed politely, but when he looked up at Chen Xiao, he showed a hint of confusion.
"I don't want to marry him!" Lingcai suddenly shouted, grabbing Chen Xiao's hand. "I...I like Chen Xiao!"
The room fell silent instantly. Yuriko's expression froze, and a murderous glint flashed in Koichi's eyes.
"Nonsense!" Yuriko shouted angrily, "Do you know that Lord Kouichi is—"
"I don't care!" Lingcai grabbed Chen Xiao and ran upstairs. "I need to talk to Chen Xiao alone!"
The attic door slammed shut. Suzuna leaned against the door, her chest heaving violently.
In the attic, dim light streamed through the paper windows.
Suzuna leaned against the door, her chest heaving violently, her long, bluish-purple hair sticking messily to her flushed cheeks.
"I...I was just using you as a shield..." She lowered her head, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her skirt, "It wasn't true..."
Before she could finish speaking, Chen Xiao stepped forward, braced himself against the door panel beside her ear with one hand, and lifted her chin with the other, kissing her without hesitation.
"Ugh...!" Suzuna's eyes widened, and her body instantly stiffened.
This kiss was gentle yet irresistible.
Suzuna instinctively tried to push him away, but she couldn't muster the strength.
After a long while, Chen Xiao finally released her and said, "If you don't like it, why don't you refuse?"